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I've always liked Anna Kendrick, I consider her a good actress, but until now she had played roles mainly in comedies or dramatic films, so I was surprised to see her not only as the protagonist, but also as the director of a dark thriller based on a true story and I was also surprised to see that as a director, Anna did a good job.

The film flows very well, the tension is constant and the cast does a great job, from Kendrick to Daniel Zovatto, absolutely perfect in the role of the crazy Rodney Alcala.

Zovatto fits perfectly into the role of this psychopath and the moments in which he tries to charm women before killing them, really give you the shivers, also thanks, as mentioned, to the solid and no-frills direction of Kendrick.

In conclusion, a very interesting film that I recommend, among the few truly good films released this year on Netflix.

This film spoke to me for a couple of reasons. I was a college student during the time depicted in this film, and I remember very well how naïve many young women were about how manipulative, conniving, and dangerous some men could be. I'm fortunate that nothing happened to me, because I certainly took some risks in situations where I should have known better. And then when something like a sexual crime did happen to a young woman, law enforcement didn't always take it seriously. They often thought the girl was asking for it because, for example, she was wearing a short skirt and walking alone at night.

The pacing of this film is deliberate and intense, and it switches back and forth between time frames and victims. I found it a little annoying at first, but it all made sense at the end. I thought Anna Kendrick and Daniel Zovatto played their roles extremely well. Zovatto came across as creepy AF. A few points are fictionalized, of course, and I'm not sure how much. I did some reading about Rodney Alcala, and the way he was apprehended is essentially accurate. If you can deal with the slow pace of this film, it's well worth the watch.

Woman of the Hour follows the story of serial killer Rodney Alcala along with his appearance he made on the game show, The Dating Game. If you're like me, I didn't know anything about this story at all going into the film, so it was a really interesting watch. This is a good not great movie, but Anna Kendrick did a great job in her directorial debut. I really like what she did with this film, it just felt like it was missing something though. Aside from a couple scenes, it lacks the suspense that could've made this a really great thriller. Regardless, this is a solid movie that I would recommend giving a watch once and I hope we see more of Anna Kendrick directing in the future!

This film does a good job of revealing the ways psychopaths often use charm to lure their victims. I appreciate the fact that the film is by no means a typical horror film or a typical psychological thriller. Most of the violent acts in this film are only portrayed via the events leading up to them (or after them), and so much of the actual violence is indirectly portrayed rather than actually being shown. It keeps things light enough -- and doesn't show enough actual violence -- in order for the film to remain watchable but at the same time, it is often very unsettling and disturbing. The scene in the parking lot after the taping of the Dating Game really perfectly conveyed the same feeling that the character played by Anna would be feeling at the time. It's as though I could literally feel her own fear and uneasiness. I think Anna's acting and directing in this film were superb, as was all of the acting in general. What I appreciate most about this film is its underlying message(s) or themes regarding how women can so easily fall prey to the darker side of the male ego and how manipulative some men can be when it comes to women, such as exploiting the innocence or vulnerability of women for their own selfish gain. I also appreciate how it shoes that society in general (and especially back then) actually encourages and often condones this kind of treatment toward women -- dehumanizing and objectifying them. And as the film shows, even intelligent women are susceptible to the charm of the psychopath -- and society alone can render them vulnerable. This message was not only delivered via the behavior and violence of "Rodney" but also via the behavior of a few other male characters in the film. Anyone hoping for a typical serial killer film is going to be disappointed with this one. But anyone hoping for something with more underlying depth will hopefully appreciate it.

Aspiring actress Sheryl Bradshaw struggles to land her big break, to get her face seen, she agrees to go on a dating show, where she meets Rodney Alcala, unaware that she's interacting with a serial killer.

It's a good film, definitely well made and well acted, it's almost shocking to discover that the film is based on actual, real life events. A little research will detail just how monstrous Alcala was, he clearly committed multiple murders, and got away with it for years.

It's well paced and even though it jumps around the timeline a little, it's easy to follow. It's done in a way to show just how dangerous Alcala was, and how much danger Sheryl, our central character is in.

I'm a big fan of Anna Kendrick, and she did such a good job as Sheryl, she's great, Daniel Zovatto perhaps steals it, he's excellent as Alcala.

One scene that did confuse me a little, were they implying that Alcala was flirting with a guy, and trying to lure him to his death? It felt a little bizarre.

7/10.

This film is a highly dramatized, poorly paced retelling of true events. While I did enjoy how the movie handled sexism and violence towards women, and while there were several really effective sequences, the overall product just falls kind of flat.

The movie bounces around between Alcala with various victims, Sheryl on the dating show, and Sheryl in her personal life. The movie can't seem to decide if it wants to focus on Sheryl, the dating show filming, or Alcala. Although it's a neat factoid that Alcala was on a dating show, that really doesn't work for the crux of an entire film unless you're going to have people's lungs exploding and heads spinning a la Late Night with the Devil.

Not a bad movie but wouldn't necessarily recommend it either.

I ended up being really frustrated watching this given the fact that I thought it had a really good hook. In the end the whole thing just ends up feeling like a series of short films only a couple of which I found to be engaging and when put together into one film it just ends up feeling repetitive. That's not to say it isn't effective, it is absolutely appropriately brutal its depiction of violence towards women but also in how it portrays the sexism of the 70's. The main thing that intrigued me about this movie was the idea of the game show portion and that ended feeling really undercooked and in the overall narrative it didn't ultimately amount to much. There are very effective sequences and it's very handsomely shot but it's so uneven that I couldn't help but feel disappointed in the final product.

Greetings again from the darkness. As a lonely woman, being told you have the look of a model is a welcome compliment. As a runaway living on the streets, having a young man show an interest in you is a welcome development. As a single woman moving into an apartment and having a charming young man help move your furniture is a welcome occurrence. As a struggling actress, getting cast on a hit show is a welcome gig. What do all of these situations have in common? They feature vulnerable women who crossed paths with Rodney Alcala, an infamous serial rapist and murderer. This is the first feature film directed by uber-talented Anna Kendrick and it's a doozy.

Director Kendrick also stars as Cheryl Bradshaw, the struggling actress whom we first meet in one of her endless rounds of auditions where she doesn't get cast due to her physical appearance. It's one of a series of misogynistic scenarios that play out in this film written by Ian MacDonald and based on the true story of evil Rodney Alcala (played here by Daniel Zovatto). The film is set mostly in the late 1970's, although it bounces around a bit. We first see Alcala charming a woman in 1977 Wyoming by using his camera and photographic skills to instill a level of comfort and entice her into his car. Very little violence is shown on screen, but the aftermath is - leaving no doubt that Alcala is a monster.

Beyond the murders, what made Rodney Alcala headline-famous, was his 1978 appearance on "The Dating Game", a very popular TV show at the time (only we don't get to hear the iconic theme song, and there's no kiss thrown at the end). By pure coincidence, the bachelorette questioning the three bachelors that day was Cheryl Bradshaw. As the host of the show, Ed Burke (not Jim Lange, played by Tony Hale) adds to the misogyny of the times, while the hair and make-up ladies quietly cheer on Cheryl as she re-writes the second half questions exposing her level of frustration at playing an item of desire for three men. With no shortage of creepy or horrific moments, the film's best sequence involves Cheryl and Alcala walking through a poorly lit parking lot after an excessively awkward post-show drink. This sequence alone proves Ms. Kendrick's mettle as a filmmaker - the tension is nearly unbearable.

Rather than a straightforward re-telling of a psychopath's tales from the 1970's, the film adds layers by reminding us of what women faced in that era - from subtle lack of value to outright abuse and constant concern for their safety. Even Cheryl's interactions with her neighbor (Pete Holmes) displays challenges faced in ordinary settings. The 1979 San Gabriel segment with the runaway (Autumn Best) is both true and chilling, and yet further proof of how much leeway an educated white guy like Alcala could get away with (he had been previously questioned by police in 1977). If somehow you reach the end of the film and aren't totally sickened by Rodney Alcala, just try and keep it together while reading the last few slides regarding his trail of destruction - and just how courageous that final runaway proved to be.

Premieres on Netflix on October 18, 2024.

I like Anna kendrick, but this film's title is very misleading.

The real Sheryl Bradshaw on the the real gameshow, was flirtatious, confident & quite smutty, with her questions being full of innuendo & some of them, quite ridiculous. She also says she's a Drama teacher on the show. Anna Kendrick portrays her as a failing actress, with no confidence & who was tricked into going on the show, who then changed the smutty, flirtatious questions the show gave her, to intelligent, insightful ones, designed to make the contestants look like idiots, this didn't happen!

The real woman of the hour, was the 14 year old runaway who, after getting beaten, rated & almost murdered, managed to keep her cool & trick the real Rodney Alcala into keeping her alive, until she was able to escape & get help. If it wasn't for her, he would of still been free to continue his reign of terror. Cheryl Bradshaw had nothing to do with catching him & it's an afront to the real heroine, who actually got him caught!

I thought the acting and directing were excellent. Really impressed with Anna Kendrick. The movie was very good. I wish it was a little longer and had a few more twists. A few scenes were really amazing including the part where they show the dating game and the part afterwards. Saw the movies today at the TIFF and seemed as though that everyone really enjoyed it despite the serious subject matter. It would have been so great of there was no strike and the actors could have taken part today. One of the producers was there and read a note from Anna which was well received. I would recommend seeing this film.

Short: This story shows promise but ultimately falls short due to a lack of crucial details that could have elevated it to greatness. The narrative includes numerous anecdotes, but they feel disconnected, leaving the plot disjointed. The film abruptly concludes, leaving many questions unanswered and the audience unsatisfied. Overall, it comes across as a low-budget effort that fails to fully develop its potential.

Long: Women of the Hour is a psychological thriller inspired by the true story of Rodney Alcala, the infamous "Dating Game Killer." Set in the late 1970s, the film explores the chilling intersection of entertainment and crime as Alcala appears as a contestant on a popular dating show while actively committing heinous murders.

The story is ambitious, delving into themes of manipulation, the public's fascination with spectacle, and the danger of appearances. However, the execution leaves much to be desired. While the movie attempts to blend dark humor with a critique of the era's obsession with celebrity culture, the fragmented storytelling undermines its impact. Anecdotes from Alcala's life are presented, but they feel scattered and fail to create a cohesive narrative. As a result, the film struggles to maintain tension or provide a deeper understanding of its characters.

The abrupt ending compounds these issues, leaving key questions unanswered and robbing the story of a satisfying resolution. The lack of connective tissue between events gives the impression of a rushed, underdeveloped script, despite its intriguing premise. Furthermore, the film's low-budget production values are evident, detracting from its potential impact.

While Women of the Hour has an interesting concept and moments of potential, it ultimately falls short of being the gripping thriller it aims to be. With more detailed storytelling and stronger character development, it could have been a standout piece.

Sheryl (Anna Kendrick) is a struggling actress in Hollywood in the 1970's. Ready to give up and move back home, her agent books her on The Dating Game, where she can pick from 3 bachelors to go on a date. Among the gentlemen suitors to be is Rodney (Daniel Zovatto), a serial rapist and killer, who wants Sheryl to be the 'Woman of the Hour'.

The film is decently acted and shot; reminiscent of the '70's, where everything is a hue of brown and orange. The fault is the script. Most of the film revolves around Sheryl, but the other various crimes that Rodney commits are far more interesting. The climax of the film is lackluster and may leave the viewer less than satisfied.

Might be worth a watch. Don't expect much.

As someone who was very familiar with this case before watching the movie, I was extremely disappointed with the liberties they took with the source material. I think it's kind of odd that there was no mention of Tali or Robin or many of the women he was actually convicted of harming and/or killing beyond the reduction of Robin to "a 12-year-old girl" in the epilogue. All three victims highlighted in this were based on real people, and I think he might have been convicted of one of their deaths, and maybe the movie wanted to give a voice to some of the lesser-known victims, and that's fair and makes sense. Also, the movie was about Cheryl primarily, so it was limited in additional characters it could include. Still, it bothered me that so many of his victims were treated as mere footnotes in this story, if even mentioned at all. And yet they had time to add a completely fictional plotline that was totally unfair to the real-life people involved in bringing justice to the victims. I've heard Kendrick do interviews where she acts like Rodney Alcala was floating around for a decade, being reported left and right and nobody in authority cared. That's the impression you might walk away with after watching this movie and hearing her speak. The truth is far more complicated than that. But trust a Hollywood actress/director to manipulate the facts to support a very self-serving agenda.

The narrative was, for the most part, very tight, very suspenseful and very thought-provoking. But there were some elements I think should have been cut.

For example, I did not like the scene where Cheryl has an implied drunken and non-consensual encounter with a male friend. That just feels disrespectful to the real woman. I don't think that was inspired by her real life because my understanding is little is known about Cheryl Bradshaw's private life. Women are complex beings and have as many different experiences as there are women out there. Don't reduce us just because you seem to think we're all essentially extensions of each other with very similar core experiences. I'm sure there are many women in Hollywood who can relate to that kind of experience. I don't know if it's fair to assume Cheryl can just because she's a woman and she once appeared on a game show. Once again, I'm assuming that was made up for dramatic effect. And it just seems insensitive to attach that kind of experience to her as part of a fictional narrative that people may think is true.

Also, I did not like that they altered what happened on the actual game show episode. If you watched the movie and know the true story, you'll know what I'm referring to. Part of the horror of watching that old episode of The Dating Game was seeing how obvious it was that there was something deeply unsettling about Rodney. And yet how perfectly he molded his creepy answers to the expectations of the show. In real life, he wasn't even putting on an act, and that's what's scary. He was being his authentic self, and the audience was laughing along with him. So the movie missed the mark in that regard. Also, I think in real life, the other two bachelors were better people than the movie made them out to be. I don't know this for sure, but that's the impression I got from watching a recent documentary. A male executive producer did not want Rodney on the show but compromised so long as the other two could be better candidates and contrast with his weirdness. That was my understanding. It was a woman who talked him into allowing Rodney on the show. The movie makes it seem like women had the better intuition here, but the men ignored them. That is false.

And finally, I hated, hated, hated the addition of the Laura character. It was melodramatic nonsense and complete fiction. There was no Laura in the real case from what I'm reading. In fact, even though it has been said she was inspired by many people who spoke up but were disregarded, I have no idea where this idea that Rodney got away with his crimes for so long because of the police ignoring women like Laura came from. The reason Rodney got away with committing so many murders is because when two young girls recognized him on a wanted poster and the police arrested him for what should have been the biggest slam-dunk trial ever - the assault of an 8-year-old whose near-lifeless body was actually found in Rodney's home by the police after they followed up on another concerned and very observant citizen's tip - he was given a plea deal, and then the parole board let him out after roughly three years. And then, when he was caught violating his parole with another young girl, he was given another slap on the wrist and allowed out of prison after only two years or less. There were definitely heroic cops involved in this case, but you don't hear about them at all in the movie. You mostly come away with the false impression that if people had just listened to the women, everything would have turned out a lot better. It's an empowering message for those in 2024 who believe that cops can't be trusted and women are always victims and all men are suspect, but it has very little to do with the actual story. I recommend watching the documentaries on Rodney Alcala if you want to know more about how the real world works and less about how disillusioned Hollywood stars think it works. It's funny because the truth would have been so much more compelling. But I get the feeling that Hollywood elected not to go with the truth because they're not trying to vilify lenient American judges and parole boards here, just cops and people who don't believe women.

Overall, I would give this movie a 3 and a half. It was technically very well done. The actors all did a great job, even though I did not think Anna Kendrick or Daniel Zovatto looked or acted at all like the real people, making the movie feel even more false. I don't know why Anna Kendrick even bothered consulting with the prosecutor Matt Murphy on this case because it seems like everything she included was stuff she could have learned from Wikipedia, padded up with a lot of fiction. It seems many people will walk away from this movie believing lies about the true case and walking away with all of their biased worldviews confirmed, totally missing out on the nuances of true crime.

I am drawn to Anna Kendrick's movies despite not really being a fan of hers because I don't know her personally, but I know people who have acted alongside of her many years ago. An older relative, for example. And what's funny is that I seem to remember that older relative mentioning a photographer she met while acting and how he seemed to have this weird interest in convincing young women to model for him. In fact, I had a run in with him once myself, and he gave me his business card. I can't remember how old I was at the time, but I seem to think I was around 12 because I'm connecting that memory to being in sixth grade and being in a specific dance class. He knew my relative, and I knew a relative of his, so maybe that's why the interaction occurred and maybe he meant it innocently. I don't know. I may be combining him with Rodney Alcala in my head because that one encounter I had with him made me think of a lesson learned from Alcala; you have to be extremely careful when you're a young girl or woman especially and are being approached by a man you don't know that well. You never know if his intentions are pure. I tend to go with the assumption they're not in order to play it safe. So I never did anything with that business card and don't think I ever spoke with him again. Probably no great loss. Though as far as I know, he never was accused of any criminal activity and might just have been your average everyday weird guy.

To sum up, I would have liked this movie a lot more if it had been fictional and not molded a true case to fit its very narrow worldview.

Based on a true story, vicious serial killer, set in the late 1970s, featuring the lovely and multi-talented Anna Kendrick, and ... directed by that same lovely and multi-talented Anna Kendrick! More than enough reasons for me to check out "Woman of the Hour" as soon as it became available via Netflix, and it certainly didn't disappoint!

This is why I am so intrigued by true-crime stories. They are far more incredible and deranged than fiction. If you wrote a script about a serial killer participating in a popular TV-dating show, after already two convictions and imprisonments for sexual delinquencies, nobody would find it realistic or plausible. And yet, it's what really happened in September of 1978, when Rodney Alcala partook - and won - an episode of "The Dating Game" as the witty amateur-photographer Bachelor #3.

Alcala's television appearance is just a mere footnote in his "career", and Anna Kendrick (who also depicts Cheryl Bradshaw; - the woman who chooses him for a date) realizes this as well. "Woman of the Hour" also re-enacts a few of Alcala's previous crimes, like the murder of a stewardess that remained unsolved until 2011 and the kidnapping and attempted murder of a 15-year-old runaway girl. In parallel, Kendrick illustrates the difficulties and dangers that aspiring and naïve young actresses had to face in Hollywood in the late 70s. Perhaps it's not the best true-crime thriller you'll ever see, but "Woman of the Hour" has and handful of efficiently suspenseful moments, a good cast (Autumn Best and Daniel Zovatto also give away strong performances), excellent 70s decors & vibes, and a confident & promising director.

I was really impressed by this film and I had my reservations going into it.

Why are women (me included) obsessed with true crime, particularly of the serial killer nature? And why do we continue to subject ourselves to the torment and angst of what is, realistically, not the way the vast majority of women are killed by men?

I'll hazard a guess that it's because stranger danger is more palatable than the truth.

That said, the portrayal of the women and their reactions once they realise what is about to happen is spot on.

We've all had to smile and apologise for someone else's behaviour when they are the ones who have misread a situation, out of preservation and fear of what might come next if we don't comply.

There's quite a bit of poo-pooing in the reviews about accuracy and the imposition of modern values on a dated event. Well guess what, it's 2024 and we need to put things in context for viewers today.

Anna Kendrick, and all involved, did a stellar job. This is subtle, not gratuitous, and puts the women at the heart of the story.

Autumn Best easily has the standout acting performance in Anna Kendrick's first directorial outing, but Daniel Zovatto as serial killer Rodney Alcala is perfectly creepy as well. The scoring and cinematography are impressive and engaging, and the writing is well-paced and character-driven. I realize this is LOOSELY based on the real story of Alcala's crimes, but the writer(s) got a tad creative compared to the real story (the character "Laura" (played by Nicolette Robinson) never existed, Rodney was bachelor number one, not three, etc.) I also could've used a little more background on him and how he became such a monster. All-in-all this was a tense, interesting, and quite frustrating look at what has to be one of the strangest serial-murder cases of the last 50 years. I see good things ahead for Anna Kendrick's directing career.

Check some youtube videos of Sheryl at the dating game show - it's a completely different person to the one depicted in 'woman of the hour'.

I understand some creative liberties, but this is a complete fabrication of her personality.

The set and the actors are excellent, i am just uncertain as to why Anna Kendrick felt the need to change Sheryl's personality and back story. It's uncalled for and not true to the facts.

I love Anna Kendrick in everything she has done. She is extremely talented. I do hope - for her sake - that she will learn from her directorial debut mishap and treat the audience with more respect next time around.

Although this movie I found to be quite good and engaging in parts, I thought the slow pace and just generally the lack of content really lets it down.

So have to say off the bat, you'll need to have an understanding of the real life story before you delve into this, because if not I think it'll be a hard and dull watch. I had a basic understanding of the real life story and this worked perfectly for the watchability of this movie as I knew what was going on and understood some references, but also didn't know enough so it kept it interested and on the edge of my seat to know how he got caught.

However, my main issue is that I feel as though it's not a long enough story to really make into a movie. It's an hour and a half and the pace was really slow at times, almost like it was just squeezing that little more out just to reach that 90 min mark.

Acting was great however, the setting and cinematography was also great and for a directorial debut I think Anna Kendrick can say it was a success!

Anna Kendrick's directorial debut in Woman of the Hour is an ambitious attempt to explore the chilling true-crime story of Cheryl Bradshaw and the serial killer Rodney Alcala. Kendrick, also playing Bradshaw, delivers a convincing performance, capturing the tension and fear of her character. Daniel Zovatto's portrayal of Alcala is unsettlingly effective, bringing both charisma and malevolence to the role. The chemistry between the two actors enhances the intensity of their scenes, making their interactions riveting to watch.

The film successfully recreates the 1970s atmosphere, from the aesthetic of the dating show to the everyday life details in Los Angeles, immersing viewers in that time period. However, the pacing of the film feels uneven. Some scenes are unnecessarily stretched out, while others lack the development they need. The transitions between Cheryl's story and the flashbacks of Alcala's victims sometimes feel disjointed, creating a narrative flow that is not always smooth.

The resolution of the film also feels rushed and somewhat unsatisfying, leaving the audience with a sense of incompletion. The movie tries to cover too much ground in its 90-minute runtime, constantly jumping between timelines and perspectives, which ends up being confusing. Kendrick, perhaps unintentionally, focuses more on Alcala, the killer, when the story of his victims, particularly the women he murdered, should have taken center stage.

Overall, Woman of the Hour is a decent film that shows promise in Kendrick's directorial abilities, but it struggles to find a clear narrative focus. While the lead performances are strong and the subject matter engaging, the uneven pacing and character development hinder its potential. The film presents an intriguing premise but ultimately fails to match it with a cohesive and well-executed story.

Anna Kendrick's first movie as a director confirms one thing: She's better behind the camera than in front of it; her "brainy with a touch of airhead nerd" demeanor worked in movies like Up in the Air but is lost in more serious movies. But her direction is confident and she clearly picked up her style from watching the movies she gushes about in a recent Criterion Closet episode (Klute, All That Jazz, and Bergman films).

This depiction of the Rodney Alcala murders, aka the "Dating Game Killer," shifts back and forth in time. In the first 20 minutes, the events go from 1978, to 1977, back to 1971, and then 1979, before settling back to 1978, where Kendrick's character Sheryl, a struggling actress transplanted to LA from Allentown (or Scranton), PA, is chosen to appear as "girl number one" on the Dating Game.

The game show itself features sorts of cinematic goodies, but those were already depicted in George Clooney's Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (Kendrick pays tribute to her former co-star from Up in the Air with the behind-the-scenes sequences of The Dating Game).

Alcala ends up as "bachelor number 3," and Sheryl asks questions to each bachelor (at the suggestion of her make up artist) so atypical and unorthodox that she annoys the misogynistic host of the game show, "Ed Burke," an alias for the real host of the show, Jim Lang. Alcala, exuding confidence and danger that frustrates and unsettles the other two contestants, ends up winning the date.

The best sequence of the movie takes place after the show, where Sheryl and Alcala go on a late night dinner date to a Polynesian restaurant and we feel the danger Sheryl is in. Too bad the movie could not sustain this suspense throughout the rest of the running time. Jumping back and forth from year to year is more distracting than effective. Kenrick aims for a portrait of a serial killer similar to Zodiac or No Country for Old Men, and just can't pull it off in a mere 95 minutes. The movie's events probably would have worked better as a NetFlix limited series.

The set design is odd. Although most of the events take place in the late '70s, the clothes, room decors, and general atmosphere feel more like late '60s. The Dating Game itself was more of a product of the 1960s, but was brought back for a brief run on ABC, and then in syndication, in the late '70s.

Kendrick has come a long way from Pitch Perfect (and thank God for that). She may have a bright career in directing. This one is close but no cigar.